Deadly blasts claim lives of Samaa TV and NNI journalists

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 11 January 2013 |  JP Staff Reporter

A tragic incident in Quetta left three journalists dead following two bomb blasts. The attacks, targeting media personnel, resulted in numerous casualties.

Summary

QUETTA: A reporter and a camera operator from Samaa TV, along with a photojournalist working for the NNI news agency, were among those killed in the two bomb blasts that rocked the provincial capital on Thursday.

According to newspaper reports, media personnel had gathered at the scene of a suicide bomb attack at a snooker club when a second explosion occurred outside, triggered by a bomb planted in a car. The blasts resulted in the tragic deaths of reporter Saif ur Rehman, camera operator Imran Shaikh, and photojournalist Muhammad Iqbal, with several other media persons sustaining injuries.

Reports also indicated that a DSNG (Digital Satellite News Gathering) van from Geo TV was damaged, and a cameraperson was injured in the blasts. In total, the explosions killed 93 people and injured 121 others, marking one of the deadliest attacks in recent times.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that at least two journalists suffered serious injuries: Jameel Ahmed, a Samaa TV satellite engineer, and Mohammad Hasan, a photographer for Independent News Pakistan.

KEY POINTS:

• Two bomb blasts occurred in Quetta targeting journalists.
• Three media personnel were confirmed dead: Saif ur Rehman, Imran Shaikh, and Muhammad Iqbal.
• The attacks resulted in a total of 93 fatalities and over 120 injuries.
• A DSNG van from Geo TV was also damaged in the explosions.
• The CPJ reported serious injuries to two additional journalists.